29
Hit 5000 hours on my anvil and it finally clicked why
I've been keeping a log book since I started smithing 4 years ago. Last weekend I added up all my forge time and got to 5000 hours. That's about 3 hours a day every day. I realized thats the point where I stopped fighting the metal and started working with it. My hammer control got way better and I can finally nail a full set of tongs in one heat. Anybody else hit a milestone like this and notice a big jump in skill?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
ryanburns21d ago
That 5000 hour mark is real. I remember somewhere around there where things just started flowing different. The hammer started feeling like part of my arm instead of a tool I was holding. You stop overthinking each blow and your body just knows where to put the steel. That tongs in one heat thing is a big deal too. I noticed the same shift with scrolls and twists right around that time. It's like your hands finally learn the language the metal speaks and you stop translating every move.
2
paigem4521d ago
Ryanburns nailed it with that description. Once you hit that point, you stop fighting the metal and start working with it. It's weird how you can't explain it to a new guy, they just gotta put in the time.
5